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Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress: Undergrads

Satisfactory academic progress toward an undergraduate degree consists of maintaining both a minimum term (semester) and cumulative GPA of 2.0. If classes are taken for degree credit, summer session will be considered a regular term of study for most purposes.

Students whose cumulative GPA remains under 2.0 at the beginning of their third year may face difficulty reaching the cumulative 2.0 GPA requirement for graduation.

Students who find themselves in this position are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor or visit the Advising Office, or both, as soon as possible to discuss strategies to improve their academic performance.

Students who receive financial aid who fail to complete their second year with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA could become ineligible to receive financial assistance for the following semester.

Federal and state regulations governing student financial aid programs require the college to ensure that all students who are receiving financial aid maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward their degree.

The SAP check occurs after grades are posted each spring semester. Failure to meet the standards may disqualify a student from additional federal, state, and institutional financial aid.

A student may appeal the nonsatisfactory academic progress status and be placed on probation for financial aid purposes. See also Student Academic Progress.

In addition to their major requirements, students need to take Humanities and Science (H&S), First-Year Core, and elective courses in order to progress successfully. BA and BFA students are recommended to take 60 percent studio units and 40 percent Humanities and Sciences units each semester; BArch students to take 70 percent studio units and 30 percent Humanities and Sciences units.

Academic Probation

A student who fails to make satisfactory progress is placed on academic probation. This status is reflected on the student's official transcript for all applicable terms.

If a student has one or more extensions or unreported grades at the end of the semester and the rest of his or her grades are below standard, the student will be placed on probation.

The student will be reviewed again at the end of the following semester; if the extension grades bring the student's GPA up to the standard, the probation status will be retroactively removed.

Students on probation will not be permitted to take extensions until they return to good academic standing.

Students on academic probation should take only 12 units the following term to ensure the best chance for success in improving their term and cumulative GPA. Other specific guidelines and actions may be recommended to improve the student's academic performance.

If the recommendations are not adhered to a registration hold will be placed on the student, which will block the student from registering for classes.

Academic Suspension & Dismissal: Undergrads

The Academic Review Committee meets at the end of each fall and spring term to review the academic record of each student who has not met the minimum standards for good progress.

Based on details of the student's academic history, the committee will recommend probation, dismissal, suspension, or an exception to the dismissal policy for each student.

Dismissal bars the student from enrolling in any degree or nondegree classes at CCA and from otherwise using any CCA resources and facilities normally reserved for student use unless the student successfully petitions for reinstatement (see below).

Suspension also bars the student from these activities, but normally lasts only one semester and ensures reinstatement to the college providing certain conditions are met (i.e., completion of a full-time semester of transferable units with a GPA of 2.5 or higher at another accredited, degree-granting institution).

Both dismissal and suspension are noted on the student's transcript. Exception to the dismissal policy is granted only in unusual circumstances.

A student who earns below a 2.0 term or cumulative GPA for two subsequent semesters will be subject to dismissal, as will students whose term or cumulative GPAs twice fall below 2.0 during their tenure at CCA.

A student who receives a 1.0 or lower term GPA in a given semester might also be subject to dismissal. Students on disciplinary probation who earn lower than a 2.0 term or cumulative GPA will be subject to dismissal without the possibility of appealing the dismissal.

Students who have been reinstated following suspension or dismissal and earn below a 2.0 term or cumulative GPA in any subsequent semester will be subject to a final dismissal.

Extensions received for the semester in which the Academic Review Committee reviews a student's academic record will not affect the committee's decision regarding the student's possible suspension or dismissal.

A one-time exception to the dismissal policy will be made for students who have not previously been on academic probation and who earn a term GPA of less than 2.0 for one semester and a term GPA between 1.7 and 1.99 the following semester. These students will be placed on academic probation for a second time, restricted to 12 units of enrollment, and encouraged to meet with their academic advisor.

Students placed on academic probation for a second time because their cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 will not be subject to dismissal provided that they pass all attempted units with a grade of C or better.

Students who are suspended from the college must complete all conditions for reinstatement in the judgment of the college before they will be permitted to enroll in classes at CCA. Transcripts or other documentation of completed requirements should be sent to the Student Records Office on the Oakland campus.

Students who are reinstated to the college following academic suspension will remain on continuing academic probation until their cumulative GPA reaches 2.0. During this time they will become subject to dismissal at the conclusion of any semester in which they fail to pass all attempted units with a grade of C or better.

Students who have been dismissed from the college and wish to be considered for reinstatement may submit a petition to the Academic Review Committee. Petitions for reinstatement must be received in the Student Records Office by the first business day in March for the following fall term or by the first business day in October for the following spring term.

Students will be notified of the committee’s decision within a month of submitting the petition.

Under no circumstances will a student who has been dismissed from the college be reinstated within one academic year.

Students who successfully petition for reinstatement must maintain a term GPA of 2.0 following their reinstatement or they will be dismissed without the possibility of a second reinstatement. For this reason, it is highly recommended the student consider carefully the decision to petition to ensure the greatest chance for academic success.

Veterans' Benefits & Academic Standing

Veterans receiving benefits at CCA who fail to meet the standards for satisfactory academic progress for two consecutive semesters will be subject to interruption of their veterans' benefits.

The decision of CCA to allow a third semester of probation or to reinstate a student following dismissal does not guarantee renewed benefits.

Veterans receiving benefits who withdraw from a class or classes may face a reduction in benefits/return of VA funds.